Metal wheel



A. M. LOFLAND.

METAL WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-20,1921.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. M. LOFLAND.

METAL WHEEL.

APPLICATION man JAN.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.v y

2 SHhEYS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATE'S PATENT' OFFICE.

ALFRED M. LOFLAND, OF LEBANON. INDIANA` ASSIGrNORv ONE-HALF TO LEWIS C.

WILLIS, 0F INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA i Specification of Letters Patent.

-METAL WHEEL.v

Appliatiqa le Janary 20.71921. serial No. 438,692.

T0 all 117101/1 'ifm/1yconcern: l

Be 1tknown that I, ALFRED. M. LorLAND,

a citizen of the United States, residing atp.. Lebanon, in the county of Boone vand State -of Indlana, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Metal lVheels.Y of

which the following is a f\1ll, clear. and exj act description. A j A The inventionwhich constitutes the subject matter ofi-thisapplication relates to improvements in the lconstruction and manufacture-.Ofvdisk Wheels.

AmongV the principal objects of the inventionare' first, .to cheapen the cost of manufacture of bracing centers by manufacturing them of waste or inexpensive material; second, to reduce materially the weight of the same; and third, to give increased strength thereto, at least to insure a maximum strength with the minimum of weight.

Broadly speaking therefore the 'invention comprises a center bracing'forfmetal-'disk wheels which ismade up .of a plurality ofstamped metal sections secured to each other and adapted to surround the hub of the wheel, each of said sections being provided with portions extending preferably in a radial direction towards the periphery of the wheel. In the preferred embodiment of the invention all of the sections are courved or bent, thereby materially increasing their strength. The invention further consists of the combination of a metal wheel, of a double disk type with a center bracing such as referred to above.

Other objects, advantages and features will more clearly appear from the. detailed description below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a. metal wheel 'particularly adapted for the front of a truck,v

and particularly adapted for the rear wheel of a truck where additional bracing effect req ui re d.'

IReferring to the drawings in detail, and first with particular reference to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the numerals 10 and 11 designate respectively the inner and outer disks of what is commonly known as a double disk metal wheel. In the form shown the disks radiate a substantial distance from the hub as indicated at'12 and 13 and then one or both converge sufficiently to enable them to meet in a plane where they varev riveted or otherwise rigidly securedto. each other, .the converging portions being Vindicated at 14 and 15, and the lmeeting plane being indicated at 16. The

peripheriesof the disks are turned at right angles to the meeting plane` as indicated at 1T and 18. to enable the rim or felloe 19 to be secured thereto in any well known manne'r.

Between the `portions of the disk 12 and 13.. which are preferably parallel ato each other. i's located the improved built-up bracing center, as more clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. This center comprises a plurality of stamped or drawn irregular sections of sheet metal having the portions 2() which are preferably' struck up in the forni shown. as nearly as possible on the are of a circle to give it maximum strength. aud the portions 21 which preferably extend outwardly in a radial direct-ion and which are preferably provided with ends 22. The e'ul of each portion 20 adjacent to the portion 21 is riveted, spot welded or otherwise secured on the outside of and to the opposite end of the succeeding portion 2() and when so secured to each other presents a unitary strueturey of substantially circular formation and built of sheet metal or wrought steel. The portions 22 may be made. straight with sections 21, but are preferably curved as this adds materially to the strength of the brad ing center as a whole and in particular prevents the outwardly extending portions from any tendency to collapse.

The hub of the wheel is diagrammath-ally illustrated at 23 and is provided with the radiating flanges 24 and 25 which overlap the exterior of the disks 1() and 11 respectively. The disks 10 and 11 are provided with perforations 26 and 2T respectively and Patented A pr. 11,. 1.922. I

the flanges 24 and 25 with perforations 28 and 29 to receive bolts 30 for rigidly and securely clamping the disks to the hub flanges. In assembling, the radiating portions 21--22 of the sections are preferably located adjacent the perforations so that the thrust diie to the tightening of the bolts passing through said holes will bear as nearly as possible directly upon said sections, thereby avoiding the distortionof the metal which might otherwise occur where the disks are made up of light material and where a builtup center is employed of only a few sections. I find that the best results are accomplished in vlocating one annular series of bolts within the curved portions 22. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing I have illustrated only one annular series of such bolts, but it will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 that a plurality of series may be employed depending upon a.

. number of factors, and chiefly the duty required of the particular wheel. The wheel illustrated in Figs. -1 to 3 of the drawings is designed for the'front'vof a truck. but it is we ll understood that the duty of the rear wheel for the same truck is materially greater and therefore should be and is built stronger, as by increasing the length of the radiating portions 21 and by adding one or more additional series of securing bolts.

The width of each of the sections 20,121 and 22 in any particular wheel is the saine. and they are so` united that the corresponding edges on either side lie in a single plane so that when the spider is positioned between the parallel portions 12 and 14 of the disks l0 and l1, all portions of said edges will contact with said disks. The improved bracing center described above not only results in a wheel that is lighter and less expensive to manufacture, but it possesses-additional strength and wearing qualities.

As previously stated, Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive illustrate a modilied form of wheel' It will be understood that I do not limitl 'myself to the exact construction shown and described as many changes can be made in points of detail and other embodiments resorted to without deviating from the true spirit and scope of my invention, as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is: l. A center for bracing disk wheels com prising a plurality of metal sections, each of said sections having an arcuate and a radial portion, the arcuate portions of the sections being united to each other in succession in a circumferential direction to form a circular construction adapted to surround the hub of the wheel.

2. A center for bracing disk wheels comprising a plurality of metal sections having arcuate portions united to each other in succession in a circumferential direction to form a circular construction adapted -to surround the hub of the wheel and having portions extending radially therefrom towards the periphery of the wheel.

3. A center for bracing disk wheels comprising a plurality of metal sections having arcuate portions united to each other to form a circular construction adapted to surround the hub of the wheel and having portions extending outwardly therefrom towards the eriphery of the wheel, the ends of the said ast mentioned portions being curved not lonly to add strength to said portions but to give more bracing effect to the disks of the wheel.

A4. A center for bracing double disk wheels comprising a plurality of metal sections having overlapping. arcuate portions united to each other at the overlaps in succession in a circumferential direction to form a substantially circular construction adapted to Surround the hub of the wheel and having portions extending outwardly therefrom towards the periphery of the wheel.

I5. A center for bracing double disk wheels comprising a plurality of sections each of which.. is stamped `up from a single piece of.

metal and all of them having arcuate portions united to each other in succession in a circumferential direction to form a circular construction adapted to surround the hub of Vthe wheel and eachsection having an integral portion extending radially with respect to the axis of the hub.

6. A center for bracing double disk wheels comprising a plurality of sections each stamped up from a single piece of metal and all of them having arcuate portions united to each other to form a circular construction adapted to surround the hub of the wheel and each section having an integral portion extending radially with respect to the axis of the wheel hub with the extreme end of said integral portion curved or bent to give the Same increased strength.

' 7. A center for bracing double disk wheels.

comprising a plurality of stamped metal sections secured to each other in succession in a circumferential direction and adapted to surround the hub of the wheel, each of'said sections being provided with portions extending radially therefrom towards the periphery of the wheel.

8. A center for bracing double'disk wheels I comprising a plurality of stamped metal sections secured to each other and adapted to surround the hub of the Wheel, each o f said sections bein provided with portions integra with an extendin radially therefrom tow rds the periphery A ends of said portions being curved t0 give increased strength to the same.

9. A center for bracing double disk Wheels comprising a 'plurality -of unitary metallic sections having arcuate portions to forma circular construction adapted to surround' the hub of the wheel. one end of each of said arcuate'portions overlapping and secured to the-adjacent end of the next succeeding section, and a second portion integral with and extending outwardly from the overlapping end of the arcuate portion.

l0. In a wheel, a flanged hub and a pair of sheet metal disks Aextending outwardly from the hub, in combination with a bracing center interposed between said disks comprising a plurality of stamped metallic sections secured to each other in succession in a circumferential direction and surrounding said hub, each of said sections being provided with portions extending radially therefrom, and means passing through the flanges of said hub and through the disks in close proximity to said portions for securing the hub to said disks.

11. A center for bracing double disk wheels comprising a plurality of unitary metallic sections having portions united to form a construction adapted to surround the hub of the Wheel, one end of each of said portions overlapping and secured to the adjacent end of the next succeeding section, and a second portion integral with and extending from the overlapping end of the first mentioned portion.

12. In a Wheel, a flanged hub and a pair of sheet metal disks extending outwardly from the hub, iin combination with a center bracing interposed between said disks comprising a plurality of stamped metallic'sections secured to each other in succession in a circumferential direction and surrounding said hub` and means passing through the flanges of said hub and through the disks in close proximity to said portions for securing the hub to said disks.

13. A center for bracing disk wheels comprising a plurality of irregularly shaped metal sections secured to each other in succession in a. circumferential direction and adapted to surround the hub of the Wheel.

14. A center for bracing double disk wheels comprising a plurality of metal .sections having arcuate portions united to each other in succession in a circumferential direction to form a circular construction adapted to surround the hub of the wheel and having portions extending radially therefrom towards the periphery of the wheel, the fiat the wheel, the outer surfaces of said portions being arranged.

each otherat the overlaps in succession inv a circumferential direction to form a substantially circular construction adapted to surround the hub-of the wheel and having portions extending outwardly therefrom towards the periphery of the wheel.

16. A center for bracing double disk wheels comprising a plurality of sections the flat surfaces of which are parallel to the axis of the wheel, each of said sections being stamped up from. a single piece of metal andv all of them having arcuate portions united to each other in succession in a circumferential direction to form a circular construction adapted to surround the hub of the wheel and each section having an integral portion extending radiallyy with respect to the axis of the hub.

17. A center for bracing double disk wheels comprising a plurality of stamped metal sections, the flat surfaces of which are parallel to the axis of the wheel, said sections being secured to each other in succession in a circumferential direction and adapted to surround the hub of the wheel, and each of said sections being provided with portions extending radially therefrom towards the periphery of theI wheel.

18. In a wheel. a flanged hub and a pair of sheet metal disks extending outwardly from the hub, in combination with a bracing center interposed between said disks' comprising a`plurality of stamped metallic sections the fiat surfaces of which are parallel to the axis of the wheel, said sections being secured to each other in succession in a circumferential direction and surrounding said hub` each of said sections being provided with portions extending radially therefrom, and means passing through the fianges of said hub and through the disks in close proximity to said portions for securing the hub to said disks.

19. A center for bracing double disk wheels comprising a plurality of irregularly shaped metal sections` the flat surfaces of which are parallel to the axis of the wheel, said sections being secured to each other in succession in a circumferential direction and adapted to surround t-he hub of the wheel.

20. A center for bracingv double disk wheels comprising a plurality,of'irregularly shaped stamped metal sections secured to each other in succession in a circumferential vdirection to form a substantiallv circular construction adapted to surround the hub of the wheel.

2l. In a wheel, a flanged hub, and a pair of sheet metal vdisks extending outwardly from said hub. in combination with a bracing center interposed between said disks cornprising a pluralit)Y of metallic sections having portions thereof united to each other to form a built-np construction adapted to surround the hub of the wheel and having portions extending radially therefrom towards the periphery of the Wheel. the flat surfaces of said portions being arranged parallel to the axis of the Wheel with the corresponding edges on either side thereof in contact With said disks. and means passing through said disks in proximit)Y to said sections 'or rigidlyv securing said disks in contact with said edges.

2Q. In a Wheel, a fianged hub, and a pair of sheet metal disks spaced from each other and extending outwardlyY from and for a substantial distance at right angles to said hub, in combination with a bracing center interposed between said disks comprising a plurality of irregularly shaped stamped metallic sections having arcuate portions united to each other to form a built-up con struction adapted to surround the hub of the wheel and having portions extending radially therefrom towards the periphery of the wheel. the Hat surfaces of said portions being arranged parallel to the axis of the Wheel with the corresponding edges on either side located in planes at substantially right angles to the axis of the Wheel and in contact with those portions of said disks which are arranged at right` angles to the hub. and means passing through said disks in proximit)Y to said sections for rigidly securing said disks in Contact With said edges.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and alixed my seal this 15th day of January 1921.

ALFRED M. LOFLAND. 

